Apparatus for the electrical treatment of gases



L. BRADLEY. Y APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

Patented D60 2N, ML

Ejw-vemtoz 5 SHEETSSHEET I- W APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26,1918. LALQU 950 L. BRADLEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26,1918- ,LAUQ? A Patented Dec 20, L921.

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l BRADLEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

APPLI CATION FILED J UNE 26.1918.

Patented Dec. 26)., 19211;

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APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2611918.

TIAUQJTQfi t nted Dean 2% 19251.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

l. BRADLEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

! n APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26.1918- n Patented Bee, 2% 1921.

SSHEETS-SHEET 5 1.11m BRADLEY, or nasr cannon, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d D 2@ 19211 Application filed June 26, 1918. Serial No. 242,046.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINN BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Apparatus for the Electrical reatment of Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the electrical treatment of gases or gaseous mixtures. I

The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical apparatus of the class referred to which may be adapted, by simple manipulation, to various conditions arising during its operation.

Another object is to provide a treater which may be regulated to maintain a highall-round efficiency.

The characteristic feature of the invention is the connection in series of a plurality of like treater units by electrostatic induction. The specific construction will be more clearly defined in the specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which form a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section along line 1--1, Fig. 2 of a device embodying the invention;

F ig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-.2,

Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through a collecting electrode;

Fig. 4 an elevation of'a discharge electrode Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 33, Fi 1 Figs: 6 and 7 are a plan view and a side elevation respectively of a modification, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are a vertical and horizontal section respectively through another form of the invention. I I

1 is the casing or housing for the treater elements. The gas to tbe treated is admitted through the inlet 2 and the cleaned gas passes out through an outlet 3. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 there are four-groups of units connected in series, each group comprising a plurality of units in parallelism.

4, 5, 6 and 7 are cross-bars extending near the top of the casing 1 through the side walls thereof and 4, 5, 6' and 7 are similar cross-bars extending through the lower part of the casing. These bars, which are of electrical conducting material, are insulated from each other and from the walls of the casing by suitable bushing insulators 8 and are supported outside the casing by suitable insulators 9 of the post type. In order to prevent the fiow of gas to the outside through the bushing insulators 8, a'suitable housing 10 may be provided which may serve at the same time as a support for the insulators 9.

Between the bars 4 and 4, 5 and 5, (Sand 6, 7 and 7 are mounted the collecting electrodes 11 which may have any desired form, the partlcular form shown being preferred, however, for reasons to be subsequently pointed out. Discharge electrodes 12 extend lnto the space between the collecting electrodes and are spaced from the bars 4, 4, 5, 5' etc. a distance sufiicient to prevent spark over. The discharge electrodes of one group are electrically connected to the collecting electrodes of the group next following.

One mechanical arrangement by which the electrodes may be operatively associated is indicated in the drawings. The collecting electrodes 11 are attached to webs 15 which are in turn connected to and supported by the cross-bars 4, 4 etc. The discharge electrodes 12, which may consist of a plurality of straight wires or of wire screen or have any other form of such character as to facili tate corona discharge, are held between cantalivers 16 which are in turn attached to the bars 5, 5, etc., of the collecting electrodes of the group next following, and so on.

The discharge electrodes 12 of the last group are electrically connected to the casing 1 through the cross-bars 13 and 14 by which they are supported. The charging current may be derived, as usual, from the secondary of a step-up transformer 30 and a rectifier 40 or from a high-tension D. C. generator, one pole being connected to the bar 4 or bar 4 and the other through ground the bars 13 and 14.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the portion 17 of the collecting electrodes may consist of screen or perforated material.

Suitable bafile plates 18 of asbestos or other like material may be attached to the top, bottom and'side walls of the treater to force the gas to pass through the spaces defined by the adjacent electrodes.

The walls of the treater may be advantageously made of insulating material. In

such case the collecting electrodes may be brought substantially in contact with the .floor, ceiling and walls of the treater chamber and the baflies 18 may be omitted.

units in each group of the series. The whole apparatus may be made up of units having a The operation of the apparatus is as folsingle standard form. lows: p If the velocity and volume of gas remain One pole of the source of current be ng constant and the impressed voltage is unconnected to the bars 4, 4' and the other to changed, electrical break down-between any the bars 13, 14 through ground, the four two grou s of the series will result in ingroups of electrodes are electrostaticallycons creased eld intensities at the remaining 'nected in series across the line potential and members of the series. This characteristic since the groups and the elements of each 1 affords an automatic means of regulating the group are substantially identical, the potenoperation of precipitation, because the elimitial difference is proportionately divided. nation of one treatergroup is compensated The dielectric stress eggisting between each; for by theincreasedfield intensity at the redischarge electrode and the adjacent collect: maimng groups. ing electrodes is therefore substantially the 7 By a suita le switching arrangement it same. is possible to add or subtract groups without As'the gas is forced to pass successively in any way chan in conditions that affectthrough the passages defined by the collecting gas distribution 1n t e treater. As for in- I electrodes of each group,

action of the electric fields. Since the charswitch 21 may be ivotally mounted on each actor of the surfaces of the electrodes is bar 4, 5, etc. Or 'narily the switch 21 may such that there is a great preponderance-of be turned into alinement with the baron ionization from the discharge electrodes to which it is mounted. If it is intended to cut the collecting electrodes the particles susout a group of treater elements, it is merely pended in the gas are charged by the ions necessaryto swing the knife switch 21 of emanating and under the influence of these charges migrate toward the collecting electrodes to which they have a tendency to .attach themselvesfi ablsd -g p p by; another group, but it is The-collecting electrodes 11 are preferably also possible to vary the time of treatment of shaped and positioned to present relatively the gas, the power per cu. ft. of gas, the field the group next following.

inclined surfaces toward each other so as to in en i y, and he total capacity of the form a gradually contracted passage forthe treater. without disturbing the gas flow. gas.- The gases are subjected to repeated A greater range 'of operating conditions 4 changes in velocity and due to the resulting would-be obtained by using two or three sets centrifugal effect a certain amount of mei h p rate elect ic eq pment.

chanical separating is effected. Because of intensity of the electric field vary in the altered to suit the changed condition of the same proportion it is possible to maintain a g s a it passes throu h the various parts higher operating voltage and consequently a of the treater. Thus- 1t would be possible, more intense ionization. Immediatel after for instance, to decrease the electrode spacbeing subjected to this intense ionization the ing as theconductivity of the gas decreased gas passes into a region of-comparative quiet due to the removal of a part of the suspended where conditions are favorable for deposip s. t is the e e po e to a y tion of the precipitate. Due to the increased the treatment in a single treater. velocity at the most constricted portion of Figs. 6 and 7 show a modification of the the gas passage there is little opportunity for devlce disclosed in Figs. 1-5. The electrodes the precipitate to build up on'the collecting are slanted to include with the horizontal electrode at this point. an angle of about 60. The advantage of The nose portion 17 of adjoining collectthis arrangement is due to the fact that the ing electrodes may be formed of screen or surface 22 of the collecting electrodes 23 is perforated metal. The use of such a screen slanted and is located in a region of-comportion would allow the utilization of the parative quiet. Any dust settling on this space inclosed between the nose portion 17 surface will slide down it with little interl 3y providing a suitable number of groups it is thus not only possible to replace a disfrom the discharge electrodes that group into contact with the cross-bar of g In a single treater of the kind described I the fact that the velocity of the gas andthe the treatment of the gas may be succes vely and the web 15 as a dead air pocket where ference from the gas current. Also the acparticles driven through the screen portion cumulation of dust on this surface will in could settle without interference. no way reduce the air gap between the col- This type of precipitator offers distinct lecting electrodes 23 and the discharge elecadvantages in the way of flexibility of optrodes 24. With the electrodes slanted as eration'. It may be accommodated to "any shown there would of course be little advoltage by simply increasing or decreasing vantages in making the nose portion 25 of the number of groups in the series, or to screen as suggested with reference to the any volume by increasing the number of portion 17 in Fig. 3.

The form of the invention illustrated in- F igs. 8 and 9 is generally the same as that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, but differs therefrom as to the form of the electrodes. The collecting electrodes 50 are tubular elements which are preferably tapered to form gradually constricted passage ways for the gas and the discharge electrodes 51 are relatively slender rods studded with prongs 52 to facilitate discharge. The collecting electrodes 50 are supported on frames 53 of angle iron or other suitable material secured to the bars 55, 56 and the interstices 54 between the tubes may be closed up by sheet material to force all the gas to pass through the tubes. The rods 51 forming the d1scharge electrodes for one grou of collecting electrodes are securedto t e fram e 53 of the preceding group. The d1spos1t1on of the electrodes is preferably so made that the axes of the tubes 50 of one group pass centrally through the spaces defined by the axes of the tubes of the groups immediately receding and following as clearly indicated.

afiles or barriers 57 may be provided along the walls of the treater chamber 60 to prevent the gas from passing through the space between the walls and the barrier formed by frames 53.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the above disclosure which is only for the purpose of illustration.

The device may be operated by A. C. as well as by D. C. While the forms of devices illustrated are constructed as horizontal treaters a. e. as treaters in which the gases are passed through the treater chamber in horizontal direction, it is obvious that they may be constructed as vertical treaters.

ll claim:

1. Apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a plurality of treater'units connected in series by electrostatic induction.

2. In apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases, a treater chamber containing a pluralitypf treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction.

3. Apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a plurality of treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction to form a continuous passage-way for the gas.

4:. Apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a plurality of groups of parallel treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction.

5. In apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases, a I

treater chamber containing a plurality of groups of parallel treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction.

. tegral electrical 6. Apparatus'for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a plurality of groups of parallel treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction to form a continuous passage-way for the gas.

7. In apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases, a plurality of discharge electrodes, a plurality of collecting electrodes and a plurality of elements inductively connected therebetween, said elements comprising each as inand a discharge electrode for cooperation with said discharge electrodes and said col lectinlg electrodes respectively.

8. n apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases, a plurality of discharge electrodes, a plurality of collecting electrodes and a plurality of elements inductively connected therebetween, said elements comprising each as integral electrical parts, a collecting electrode defining assage ways for the gas and a discharge e ectrode for. cooperatlon with said discharge electrodes and said collecting elec trodes respectively.

9. Apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a plurality of treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction and means for making any unit of the series inefl'ective at will.

10. In apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases a collecting electrode element having relatively lon and separate surfaces transversely inc ined toward each other to form a gradually contracted passage-way for the gases and a discharge electrode" substantially co-extensive with the collecting electrode in the said passage-way.

11. In apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases, a collecting electrode element having relatively long and separate surfaces transversely inclined toward each other to form a gradually contracted passage-way for the gases and inclined relatively to the gas stream and a discharge electrode extendlng into the said passage-way.

12. Apparatus for the electrical separation of suspended particles from gases comprising a treater chamber, inletand outlet means for passing the gases therethrough in horizontal direction, separate collecting sur faces defining a passage-way for the gases and contracted in the direction of the gas flow, said surfaces being inclined to allow the precipitate to slide down over the collecting surface.

13. Apparatus for the electrical separa tion of suspended particles from gases comparts a collecting electrode cipitate to slide horiz ntal direction, a collecting electrode ing a chamber, a pluralitv of collecting electrodes in series 1n the path of the as stream, the said electrodes forming gra ually contracted passage ways for the gases and discharge electrodes extending into said passage ways.

a continuous passageway for. the

15. Apparatus for the electric separation of suspended particles from gases, comprising a plurality of treater units connected in series by electrostatic induction to forlrln s t e collecting electrodes of said units orining gradually contracted passageways for the gas.

in presence 0 two witnesses v v LINN BRADLEY. .Witnesses: I I:

A. F. Mnswon, J. HUFF.

In testimon whereof I aflix my signature 

